Ngo Sach Thuc, Chairman of the Vietnam-Malaysia Friendship Association.

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Malaysia (March 30, 1973 - March 30, 2023), the VietnamTimes Magazine interviewed Ngo Sach Thuc, Chairman of the Vietnam - Malaysia Friendship Association on the friendly relations between the two countries.

- What role does Vietnam-Malaysia people-to-people diplomacy play in the relations between the two countries?

On March 30, 1973, Vietnam and Malaysia established diplomatic relations. Since then, relations between the two countries have continuously developed. The two countries are actively implementing the Action Program to implement the Strategic Partnership for the 2021-2025 period, which was approved at the 6th meeting of the Vietnam-Malaysia Committee for Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation (JCM 6, 15 November 2021).

In Vietnam-Malaysia relations, people-to-people diplomacy plays a particularly important role and will become more important because of the reality of people-to-people relations between the two countries in recent years.

People's cooperation in labor, education, tourism ... have recorded many positive signals in recent years. The labor cooperation agreement signed in 2015 and the contents of the Action Program to implement the Strategic Partnership 2021-2025 are being actively implemented. Every year, many Vietnamese students receive scholarships to attend courses in Malaysia, and student exchanges are held in many majors. Tourism between the two countries is also constantly growing when an increasing number of Vietnamese tourists come to Malaysia and vice versa. According to statistics, in 2022, Malaysia is in the top 10 markets of Asian tourists to Vietnam.

It can be seen that the Vietnam - Malaysia relationship still has a lot of potential and room for development. People-to-people diplomacy will continue to be the forefront to bring the two countries and cultures closer to the goal of cooperation and integration.

- What outstanding people-to-people diplomacy events and activities will be held in 2023?

The year 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Malaysia. This is an opportunity for the two sides to review the development process and draw valuable experiences for the future. This is also the time for the two sides to have concrete and practical activities to strengthen connectivity, especially for the people of the two countries.

Currently, the Vietnam - Malaysia Friendship Association is coordinating with the Malaysian Embassy in Vietnam, the Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia as well as Malaysia - Vietnam Friendship Association to build a plan to celebrate the 50th anniversary, scheduled to be held in April 2023. In addition, the Association will also organize communication and release articles on 50 years of Vietnam - Malaysia relations; study and develop a plan to organize twinning between the province/city of Vietnam and the province/city of Malaysia; send a delegation to Malaysia to exchange and promote people-to-people cooperation; coordinate with industry and trade to organize seminars and trade promotion in Vietnam...

Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organizations in collaboration with the Vietnam - Malaysia Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh City held a meeting to celebrate the 62nd anniversary of Malaysia's National Day.

- For the two countries' people-to-people diplomacy to be highly effective, what plans does the Association have going forward?

First of all, the Association will adhere to the Party's guiding stance on people-to-people diplomacy which has been affirmed in the 13th Party Congress Document as well as in the National Foreign Relations Conference in December 2021, which is prioritizing building friendly and cooperative relations with neighboring countries and in the region. For Vietnam-Malaysia relations, the focus will be on promoting investment, trade, tourism development, training, cultural exchange, friendship, and solidarity for new development.

In the current context, considering the needs and urgency of the people-to-people diplomacy tasks, the Association will further strengthen and promote its role through the following specific objectives:

Firstly, review and consolidate personnel, search and mobilize individuals with the capacity, potential, and desire to participate in the Association's work.

Secondly, strengthen, build, and expand the network of partners. Close cooperation with the Malaysian Embassy in Vietnam is always a top priority of the Association and the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries is a good opportunity to strengthen this relationship. Next is developing relations with Malaysia - Vietnam Friendship Association. Having a good and strong relationship with this fellow association is the "gateway" to open relations with social and people organizations of Malaysia.

In Vietnam, the Association will expand its relationship with Malaysian and Vietnamese partners; build close friendly relations with diplomatic missions, economic, cultural and press representatives of Malaysia in Vietnam; establish relationships with Malaysian businesses and communities operating in Vietnam.

Thirdly, the Association will strengthen information and communication work, contributing to introducing the people, especially the young generations of the two countries, about the country and people of each nation as well as the possibility of cooperation between the two sides through seminars, talks, art exhibitions, contests about Vietnam and Malaysia.

Fourthly, proactively comment on the content of documents of relevant agencies and organizations on issues related to people-to-people diplomacy with Malaysia. The Association will exchange and work regularly with the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations to effectively implement this work.

Thank you!

Ambassadors of Switzerland, Malaysia, Cambodia Present Credentials The presentation of credentials was the culmination of a process to formalise and accredit them as Ambassadors-designate to Vietnam.

Hanoi-Kuala Lumpur Direct Flight Opens Opportunities to Promote People-to-people Ties "Direct flights between Hanoi and Kuala Lumpur will create many opportunities for people-to-people relations and strengthen our bilateral relations," said Malaysian Ambassador to Vietnam Tan ...

Four Areas that Malaysian Investors are Keen on to Collaborate with Vietnam “Malaysian investors are keen on future collaboration with Vietnamese counterparts in areas of high potentials, such as agriculture, aquaculture, processed products, and electronic products and ...